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Brian Stanley TD calls for regulator to reject standing charge for Irish Water

The Sinn Féin spokesperson on the Environment Brian Stanley TD has called on the Energy Regulator to reject a request from Irish Water for permission to impose a Standing Charge on all households.

This would be separate to the water charges which will be imposed once the metering process is completed.

Deputy Stanley said:

“This is getting beyond a joke at this stage. From an initial claim that Irish Water would lead to savings of €2 billion, we have seen establishment costs escalate and the cost imposed on domestic consumers increase to potentially alarming levels.

“If Irish Water are allowed to impose a Standing Charge then domestic users will be charged four times. They will be paying water charges and a Standing Charge, on top of their taxation being taken from the central exchequer and the proceeds of the Local Property Tax being in effect handed to Irish Water to meet escalating costs.

“I am calling on the regulator to reject this request, and for Minister Rabbitte to make a statement to the Dáil backing up his contention this morning that there would be no Standing Charge imposed.”